Three years ago when her romance with actor JC Castro fizzled out and caused her much pain and despair someone much, much better but also named JC came into her life. She remembered that her separation from her former boyfriend, who was younger than her, brought her to the lowest point in her life. To make things worst, she didn’t have a soap opera or workd for three-years after thier separation.

Melissa remembered that she was once called the "soap opera queen" because she always landed roles in one drama series after another. Since the beginning of her showbiz career she has starred in various soap operas — "Gulong Ng Palad," "Flor de Luna," "Esperanza," "Sa Puso Iingatan Ka," "Ikaw Sa Puso Ko," "Agos" and "Habang Kapiling Ka" to mention just a few. The time she parted ways with her former beau and when work seemed to elude her was really a trying time for her.

"But I just looked at it as God wanting me to rest and spend more time with Him. Instead of getting another man, I simply focused on my relationship with God," Melissa said.

Despite not having a regular soap opera, Melissa was happy that she always got TV projects in different drama anthologies. Moreover, she discovered what could be her real puspose in life.

"I think my calling is that I’m here in the business to be able to share Jesus Christ with people so they can also have the kind of peace and joy that I have. I’m so at peace," beamed Melissa.

At the moment, she is blessed with a new drama-fantasy-series entitled "Majica," featuring Angel Locsin and from the direction of Eric Quizon and Mac Alejandre. She portrays the role of Angel’s godmother who took take care of her since birth in the human world. She is also the celebrity endorser of Gateaway Spa, Grand Vision Optical and Sophisti-cut Salon.

Her first movie this year, "Mga Batang Bangketa" (from Rosas Films and directed by Angelito de Guzman) recently opened in Metro Manila but was affected by the political unrest the country recently experienced. In the movie, she plays the mother of Camille Pratts and the wife of Juan Rodrigo. Marco Alcaraz is the love interest of Camille in the said film.

"Because of what happened recently, our movie lasted only for two days in SM theaters...that’s why I was seen in the camp, I was praying for the pulis and the Marines...ang sabi ko parepareho tayong mga Filipinos, hindi tayo dapat mag-awayaway. Hindi yung nagkakasakitan at nagkakagulo. I really went there to pray for peace for our country," she lamented.

She attributed her renewed Christian life to her being an active member of the Victory Christian Fellowship where a number of local celebrities are also members. She’s involved in ushering ministry and she’s even planning to join her church’s music ministry too.

Former actress and TV host Coney Reyes was also instrumental in her life’s paradigm shift. It was her friend’s constant prayers and reminders that also helped her. "She kept telling me ‘Melissa when will you learn?

To really appreciate Jesus’ love for you, you don’t need a man to provide for you. You really only have to trust the Lord because God will be your provider.’ And she never ceased praying for me," she said.

Melissa admitted that she was once a very worldly person and that she has always been well provided for because she always had a man suporting her. She felt that her life and worth as a person can be defined by how many jewelries she had.

"I realized that prosperity is not just having money but by having my children and God. Imagine it was only God, Jesus Christ, who provided for me in those three years that I didn’t have a soap opera," she shared proudly.

Melissa loves life but in a more spiritual and deeper way. She regularly works out and plays badminton. And if you chance upon her and gets infected by her smile and charisma, don’t expect a profound explanation of her success and happiness.

She’ll probably simply say "It’s because of Jesus Christ." Amen.